2026 SCCACS Advocacy Efforts
The Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons is coordinating activities and proactively identifying and supporting issues that impact practicing surgeons and patients at the state and national levels. This is in collaboration with all three CA chapters formally termed the Joint Advocacy Committee of the ACS California Chapters (JAC-ACSCC).
Ongoing Legislation:
SurgeonsVoice Advocacy Center is an effective mechanism to write your Representatives and Senators regarding surgeon specific issues. About SurgeonsVoice | ACS
H.R. 7520 Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act: A 2.5% reduction to your work RVUs went into effect this year as an “efficiency adjustment” which is not supported by the data.
H.R. 5465 Safety and Funding for E-Bikes (SAFE) Ride Act): Electric bicycle injuries continue to rise nationwide and evidence-based policies and injury prevention strategies must be implemented.
The California Medical Association is also on the front lines of sharing physician concerns and provides information regarding ongoing legislation. Grassroots Action Center
Educational Development (in progress):
- Electric Bicycle Injury Prevention Toolkit
- Fall Prevention Toolkit
- Opioid Disposal Toolkit
- COMING SOON! – Human Trafficking-Toolkit for Healthcare Providers for Identification and Support
* Thank you to Hiyori S. Roberts, BS, MS; Audrey R. Yang, BA, MPH for their hard work creating the Fall Prevention Toolkit.
* Thank you to Gillian Li, BS; Gisselle Quiroz, BA; Margaret Canady, BA; Gina Klemm, MPH; Erika Azpeitia, MPH for their hard work creating the Opioid Disposal Toolkit.
SCCACS Advocacy Committee
Chair – Sigrid Burruss, MD, FACS
UCI
Thomas Duncan, DO, FACS
Ventura County Medical Center
Sammy Eghbalieh, MD, FACS
Southern CA Multispecialty Center
Lorraine Kelley-Quon, MD, FACS
CHLA/USC
Hari Keshava, MD
UCI
John Lam, MD, FACS
Southern CA Permanente Medical Group
Learn more about other advocacy efforts from previous years in the Advocacy Archive.
Ongoing Initiatives
Electric Bicycle Safety
National ACS is supporting HR 5265 also known as the SAFE Ride Act of 2025. This aims to establish an electric bike safety program. H.R.5265 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): SAFE Ride Act of 2025 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.
Southern CA ACS is co-sponsoring AB 2346 (Wilson) Bill Text – AB-2346 Vehicles: electric bicycles and speed limits. Reach out to your representative for support (Draft Action Alert available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TgCuZ-xyiMPn9LwvOPzNQAA4XqDKBqDs/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=107667127894453261657&rtpof=true&sd=true)
Ignition Interlock Devices
SoCal ACS is part of the Safe CA Roads to reduce driving under the influence to reduce injuries and death. You may join the Safe CA Roads Coalition here: Safe CA Roads | Official Website – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris. We are supporting AB 1830 (Petrie-Norris) to require ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk driver offenders. Bill Text – AB-1830 Ignition interlock devices.
Prehospital Blood, RMOCCs and Emergency Preparedness
Upcoming initiatives include development of pre-hospital blood programs and development of a National Trauma Emergency Preparedness System. To learn more please see:
National Trauma Emergency Preparedness System | ACS
Improving Access to Prehospital Blood May Save 10,000 Lives a Year | ACS
Regional Medical Operations Coordination Centers (RMOCCs) | ACS
Physician Wellness
AB 408 would establish a physician health program in CA. This is supported by the CMA and CA ACS is working on adding additional language so that mandated reporting is not required. We recently held public testimony during the CA Medical Board meeting however no date is set for a judicial committee hearing at this time.
If interested, please contact Senator Umberg’s Office on 916-651-4034 and use the text below.
“I am a physician in ________, and I am calling to urge your support for AB 408 (Berman). California is one of the only states without a Physician Health Program. This bill would create a confidential, evidence-based program that helps physicians address health challenges and remain safe to practice. When physicians can access support without fear of discipline, everyone benefits — including our patients. Please vote YES on AB 408.”
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for the next installment in the Advocacy webinar series. More information coming soon!
Additional Items of Interest That CA ACS is Supporting
SB 895: This bill places a bond on the 2026 ballot to create and fund the California Foundation for Science and Health Research. This will make grants and loans available for scientific research and development in CA. If interested in supporting: Fund CA Science
AB 1570 – Cancer (Wilson) requires health insurers to provide no cost sharing, screening mammography and medically necessary diagnostic breast imaging.
AB 1906 – Cancer (Aguiar-Curry)-requires health insurers and Medi-Cal to provide no cost sharing annual at-home cervical cancer screening kits.
SB 1124 – Cancer (Archuleta)-requires retailers who sell tobacco products to display and distribute lung cancer screening information. For those interested in amplifying this effort please see the opportunities listed below:
Call/Contact Toolkit for reaching Committee Members (includes contact information and scripts)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YE4uggjSAEDy96Jqq5JktI6ftEnrNOABjwMrXWxcn7M/edit?tab=t.0
Email template to send to your network, asking them to sign the coalition letter or send an email to the appropriations committee members https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z6TdvJTI6ug1T5SMM9EH9rKpovKg25UleN_UwKBVRHI/edit?usp=sharing
Link to submit individual letters of support to the Appropriations Committee Portal
https://sapro.senate.ca.gov/position-letters
Social media infographic: Please help circulate this through your social media platforms or newsletter. Any additional outreach would be appreciated. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXKfDidD4q8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
ACS Advocacy Summit
There are many active issues that the ACS is working on federally which were discussed with members of Congress and the Senate at our recent 2026 ACS Advocacy Summit held February 28 – March 3, 2026, in Washington, DC.
The event provided an opportunity for ACS members, leaders, and advocates to develop essential leadership skills and advocacy strategies. Through dynamic sessions and interactive workshops, attendees gained tools to strengthen leadership capabilities, advance healthcare policy, and influence the future of surgery.
The Advocacy Summit provides members with an update on the policy priorities the ACS is advocating for with federal lawmakers. Advocacy training and scheduled congressional visits enabled attendees to put their advocacy skills to work.
During the Summit, SCCACS Advocacy Committee Chair, Dr. Sigrid Burruss, was honored with the 2026 ACS Advocate of the Year Award. Burruss, who has long been a strong voice for surgical issues, is an Associate Professor, Division of Trauma, Burns, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery and the Vice Chair of Education, Surgery, at UC Irvine School of Medicine. Burruss has been the Chair of the SCCACS Advocacy Committee since 2023 and a co-Chair of the Joint Advocacy Committee of the ACS California Chapters (JAC-ACSCC).
Sigrid Burruss, MD, FACS, Wins Advocacy Award
Check out some of the scenes from our members hard at work advocating for you.
